And one-third to w



R. L. DICKERSON.

VEHICLE COUPLING.

APPLICATloN FILED MAR.20.191H.

'Pnteutwl Sept. 2, 1919.

Sme/wko@ Kay/wond .Plz/fum m We Am uiuiTED sTATiss PATENT OFFICE.

l RAYMO'D L. DICKERSON, OF SPOKANE, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-THIRD TO ANDREW S. JONES, OF SPOKANE, WASHINGTON, ANI) ONE-THIR) T W. J. MICHELET,

or PbRTLAND, OREGON.

Specification of Letters Patent.

VEHICLECOUPLING.

Patented Sept. 2, 1919.

Application filed March 20, 1918. Serial N0. 223,512.

` and useful Improvements in Vehicle-Cou- I plings, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in vehicle couplings, and particularly designed for use in coupling a trailer of the rtwo wheel type to a draft automobile, in

order to permit the trailer to have freedom in turning, and to insure asecure coupling lof the two vehicles.

The invention consists in certain novel combinations and arrangements of a ball land socket connection or coupling, and se- 1 curing means therefor, aswill be hereinafter ,more .fullydeseribed and claimed.

In the accoi'npanying drawings one complete example of the physical embodiment of theinvention is shown as applied to a two wheel trailer or cart and its draft motor vehicle, the parts being combined and arranged according to the best mode so far de- A vised for the practical application of the therebetween.

principles of the invention.

Figure 1 is a View showing in side elevation, a two-wheel cart or trailer and the rear end of a draft automobile or truck, with the coupling of the present invention utilized Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the parts, enlarged, and the device detached from the vehicles. v

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the socket iiicinher of the coupling, showing the ball in section, and also showing the locking devices for the coupling.

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the socket member of the coupling and locking plates, in their relation to the remaining parts of the device.

In the preferred embodiment of the inveiition a two wheel trailer is illustrated which is provided with the usual body 1 and pair of wheels 2, and the truck or tractor to which the trailer is coupled has the usual frame and rear wheels 4. In converting the truck or vautomobile for use with the trailer. the attaching plate 5 of the ball wise secured to the rear transverse sill or beam 6 of the truck, and this plate is provided ivitli a central ball or head 7 forming part of the coupling.

The trailer has attached thereto a coniplemciitary plate S secured to the bolsterl)r extending transversely of the body of the trailer at the front, and this upper plate has formed therein a hemispherical socket or inverted cup 10 to receive the head or ball which of course is spherical in form to fit' within the socket.

The weight of the forward part of the trailer is 'thus borne by the coupling of the ball and socket and the trailer, at the front, is supported 'by this coupling, with the trailer free to swing or turn and follow the movements of the truck ahead of it.

To make the coupling secure and prevent accidental displacement a locking or retain- `ing device is utilized. and for this feature the upper plate 8 which is bolted to the trailer bolster, is provided with side wings or flanges 11, 11, forming groovesor guide ways for a pair of opposed slide plates 12 and 13 that are movable under the face of the plate 8 and guided in their movement by these flanges. Each slide plate is formed with a semicircular, curved flange as 14 and 15, whichare fashioned on the curve of the spherical head or ball 7, and adapted to fit up against the head and form a continuation of the liemispherical socket 10, thus confining the head or ball within its socket, but permitting freedom of movement of the ball and socket.

These locking plates are held in closed position through the instrumentality of a yoke 16 pivoted at 17 on the slide plate 13, and the yoke in turn has pivoted at its free end. a locking lever 18. the pivot being indicated at 19. An extension link 20 is pivoted at 21 to the lever and at 22 to the slide plate 12. and the usual locking pawl 23 for the lever may engage the socket Q4 in plate S to hold the lever in locked position.

This invention is especially applicable for use where it is desired` to haul a loaded trailer to its destination. uncouple the loaded trailer and leave it for future unloading, and replace the loaded trailer by an empty one. Thus. when the loaded trailer is to be iineoupled, the lever 18 is swung around on its pivot 10 to the dotted position of Fig. 3, which turns the link as indicated to draw out the `platelQ, thei 'aosolely on its tWo pivots 17l and-19,` is moved-` to the right to draw the slide plate 1 3 to.

the right in Fig. 3. In'this manner both;

. of the slide plates are 'Wi'thdrawnfrom the center ofthe eouplingplatesand the'langes.

of the slide plates are moved a'way -fr'o'mfthefV ball or head, leavingI the" hemisphercal" socket alone in engagement With ythe head, The front end of the trailer maythenbe elevated and thus freed from the head, rlhe trailer is properly `supported, and thetruok a 'socket and Quidej"flanges.*on1theQ'plate;pp- 4 Withdrawn from beneath it,V and then an empty trailer may be coupled to the truck,

and by manipulation of the lever 18 the 1ockv l'posed slide platesl movable `in theangeSand said link.

In testimony WhereoffI aiiX my signature. 30

RAYMOND LL.` DICKERSQN j f .y

nation .with the f *belste pietje,` 'zo 

